JEAN ARP | Apparat d'une danse

Hokin Gallery, Inc., Chicago (acquired directly from the artist)
Private Collection, Massachusetts (acquired from the above in 1982 and sold: Sotheby's, New York, November 6, 2002, lot 294)
Private Collection, California (acquired at the above sale)
Thence by descent

Eduard Trier, Marguerite Arp-Hagenbach & François Arp, Jean Arp, Sculpture, His Last Ten Years, New York, 1968, no. 216A, illustration of another cast p. 113
Arie Hartog & Kai Fischer, Hans Arp, Sculptures, A Critical Survey, Bonn, 2012, no. 216A, illustration of another cast p. 155

The work is in generally very good condition. Attractive rich dark brown patina. Some extremely minor surface dust. A couple nicks to the patina and a couple areas contain uneven patina. . There is an area of possible corrosion and rubbing to the side of the base. There is one small area of rubbing and possible restoration in the lower left part of the sculpture's front, where the sculpture meets the inherent base.
In response to your inquiry, we are pleased to provide you with a general report of the condition of the property described above. Since we are not professional conservators or restorers, we urge you to consult with a restorer or conservator of your choice who will be better able to provide a detailed, professional report. Prospective buyers should inspect each lot to satisfy themselves as to condition and must understand that any statement made by Sotheby's is merely a subjective qualified opinion.
NOTWITHSTANDING THIS REPORT OR ANY DISCUSSIONS CONCERNING CONDITION OF A LOT, ALL LOTS ARE OFFERED AND SOLD "AS IS" IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE CONDITIONS OF SALE PRINTED IN THE CATALOGUE.

Jean Arp's most successful sculptures are characterized by their unblemished surfaces and smooth curvilinear forms. Since his involvement with Dada and Surrealism in the 1920s and 1930s and until the end of his life, the elegant beauty of Arp's sculpture was increasingly analyzed in terms of spirituality. Recognized throughout his career for his ability to transcend formal boundaries and create works of art that could be interpreted differently depending upon a given viewer's needs and expectations, Arp is notable for his ability to appeal to a wide audience. At the heart of Arp's success is the organic beauty of his sculptures, which seem to manifest from a vision unencumbered by any formal constraints. Arp's mastery of biomorphic form led to his incorporation of human figural elements into his abstracted sculptures in his last decade. Arp frequently compared the practice of artistic production within that of biological creation, both of which are intimately embodied by Apparat d'une danse. The artist held a particular interest in the natural world, which he aimed to “create” rather than “describe,” as was common in the tradition of naturalism. Furthermore, “Arp’s interest in nature was also directed at what he perceived to be the basic forces and principles underlying nature, the forces of growth and transformation” (Margherita Andreotti, The Early Sculpture of Jean Arp, Ann Arbor, 1989, p. 259). This proved particularly innovative within the medium of sculpture which had long been dominated by naturalistic representations of the human form.

In the present work, a bifurcated human figure gesticulates into motion, leaping unmistakably into a jubilant dance. An example of Arp's most accomplished work, Apparat d'une danse brings natural form into dazzling movement in the world, exemplifying the artist's overarching approach of continually "looking" into the present day.